April 18, 2011 - The University College London (UCL), a
public research university located in London, United
Kingdom has recently conducted a study, led by Professor
Andrew Steptoe has found that Britain's airline pilots
are suffering significant fatigue.

Their report, published last week, shows that of a
sample of 492 pilots (two thirds of them Captains) 45
per cent were suffering significant fatigue. And 40 per
cent found themselves having to fly more than the
regulation hours at least twice a month to cope with the
volume of flights.

The Civil Aviation Authority does allow these
'discretionary hours' to deal with difficult situations
but they are supposed to be a rare, not regular, event.

Disturbingly, the UCL study reveals that 'one in five pilots
reported that their abilities were compromised in flight more
than once a week. The study goes on 'Pilot fatigue is an
acknowledged contributory risk factor to aircraft accidents.'
Jim McAuslan, General Secretary of the British Airline Pilots'
Association (BALPA) which commissioned the study, said:

'With increasing competitiveness in the industry there was
always a risk that fatigue levels would increase for pilots.
This study shows that the risk is real. And our major concern is
that, far from regulating to tackle this growing problem, the
European Union is proposing to scrap
UK
regulations and replace them with more permissive rules.

'Pilot fatigue has been causing concern around the world. In the
USA
and in the aftermath of the Colgan crash which killed 50 people,
the authorities have acted in the last two years to reduce pilot
duty hours. Yet the EU is planning to go in the opposite
direction.

'The UK's current fatigue rules are not perfect, as the UCL
study shows, but they are the result of decades of scientific
and medical study as well as pilots' operational experience. The
European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) sponsored research when
drafting its EU rules but have then substantially ignored the
scientists' recommendations.

'The UCL research adds to the body of evidence that indicates that the
European regulator has got it wrong. We have written to the Secretary of
State for Transport asking that the British Government stand up for
scientifically-based flight time limitations and UK
aviation safety standards and to press the European Council of Ministers
to level up standards rather than joining a race to the bottom.

'Fatigue amongst British pilots is growing, as this study shows and as
our members know. UK pilots have also been giving
personal testimonies about their own experience of fatigue and what it
feels like to be pushed to the limits. These are enough to make the
hairs stand up on the back of your neck, even under current fatigue
regulations. To force them to fly still more hours is, frankly,
reckless.'

Previous studies already acknowledge that factors contributing to
aircrew fatigue include irregular sleep and work patterns, causing
disruption of the circadian rhythm, long duty days, early starts, night
flying, multiple sectors and an expectation that pilots should regularly
fly into discretionary hours. This study reinforces those concerns.

The UCL team's recommendations include better scheduling
to take pressure off pilots and more transparent fatigue
reporting systems. 'Airline passengers,' said Jim
McAuslan, 'should be alarmed that on top of the
pressures already exerted on pilots, the EU proposes to
increase pilot flying hours which are dangerous.'